Ozzie Guillen on Marlins right-hander Jacob Turner: The one thing I like, he throws strikes

Ozzie Guillen wants big right-hander Jacob Turner to continue to do what he did in his Marlins debut last week in Arizona.

Turner, acquired last month from Detroit, makes his second start of the season – and first in Marlins Park – tonight against the Nationals.
“I love him,” Guillen said. “The one thing I like, he throws strikes. His body language was pretty good. That’s what we’re looking for.

“We want him to do what he did in Arizona. I’m not expecting that all the time but something around there. Be consistent. We will see about this experience, is this guy ready to pitch in the big leagues next year? Do we have to give him more time? The way he pitched in Arizona was a big step.”

Turner allowed three runs on four hits and no walks, and struck out five, in six innings. He was the losing pitcher in the Diamondbacks’ 3-2 win. He threw 80 pitches, 50 strikes.

Turner was asked what he took from his first start.

“As far as learning, probably the biggest thing was just my teammates,” he said. “And kind of knowing how (John) Buck calls the game behind the plate. But as far as pitching, it shouldn’t be a whole lot different.”

He was pleased with the way he made adjustments.

“I made some good adjustments after the first inning,” he said. “That was probably the biggest key for me to make those in-game adjustments on what I needed to do.”

Stanton one of the few positives

Giancarlo Stanton said winning player of the week honors on Monday is one of the “few positives” in a year like the Marlins are having.

Guillen said Stanton is “one of the bright things” in the organization right now.

“This is something very exciting, very positive for the ball club,” Guillen said. “It’s exciting seeing this kid grow up and learn how to play. He could be one of the more dangerous hitters in the game right now. He’s one the bright things in this organization right now. He’s fun to watch. He goes about his business the right way. It’s a very nice surprise when he came off the surgery.”

Stanton’s player of the week honor came at a good time considering the team will be giving away Stanton bobblehead dolls tonight to the first 15,000 fans.

“I saw it briefly, so hopefully I’ll get some and send them all home,” Stanton said. “I like it.”

* Ozzie on the team’s attitude: “A lot of people when they are not in the pennant race all of a sudden they don’t want to play, they are selfish. Right now everybody has been great.”

* Ozzie on whether the team can carry over a strong finish to next year: “The only way you finish and you remember everything is when you have the World Series trophy around you and you are taking pictures with it.”